Nudd to be left out of all 2004 international squads

AFTER representing England for 20 successive years, Bob Nudd MBE, will not be included in this years National Federation of Anglers (NFA) International squads. But far from being disappointed at his exclusion the fifty-nine-year-old (who has just moved from Essex to live in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire) is upbeat about the decision to leave him out.“I have been involved at the highest level for 20-years. During that time I have won seven team and four individual gold medals and dozens of other medals on the world stage. I have fished and made friends all over the world and I want to thank Dick Clegg and the NFA for making all of my 20-years at the top possible,” said the superstar.

Dick Clegg OBE introduced Bob Nudd into his team in 1984 when England finished runners-up in Switzerland. Nudd won a team gold on his next World Championship in Italy (England’s first team gold under Clegg) in 1985 and the likeable angler gained in stature from that point. He once attracted a record number of votes for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year programme but the BBC refused to let him win claiming he was not a television personality! He was made a Life Member of the NFA in 2000 after collecting his fourth individual gold medal.

NFA International Events Director, Dick Clegg OBE, was responsible for Bob Nudd’s rapid progress on the International scene. “It was clear from the outset that Bob had exceptional talent,” said Clegg adding: “He was popular with the team and the other competitors. Kevin Ashurst is actually the longest serving England member but Bob has surpassed the achievements of the legendary French angler Tesse and is acknowledged as one of our greatest ambassadors for the sport. Bob always wanted to win a team medal first and any personal accolade was secondary to him. Like me, Bob realises that there is a time to step down, but I want to say that it was a pleasure working with him and the country owes him a great deal.”

A genial giant on the world stage and always regarded as the sports ‘Mr Nice Guy,’ Bob accepted that he could not remain in the England team forever. “I didn’t expect to fish this year. England has so many good anglers to chose from and they need to be given a chance as early as possible. I know I keep saying it, but I have no regrets, my 20 international years have been brilliant,” commented Bob.

Drennan Team England and NFA coaches Mark Downes and Mark Addy are full of praise for the service Bob Nudd has given the country. Downes said: “It has been a privilege to work with Bob during his 20-years of international angling, either as a fellow team member or a coach. He has immense talent and tactical awareness but sadly time does not stand still.” Addy agreed: “We need to be looking at a new generation of match anglers who are modelling themselves around Bob Nudd. I have worked with Bob for eleven years and I want to say ‘thank you’ for being such an outstanding ambassador for the sport.”